A description is provided of "Principles of Family Planning," a course designed for graduate nursing students or practicing nurses seeking continuing education credit. The first sections of the course description provide a rationale for the course, information on its curricular placement, scheduling information, and statements of long-range and end-of-course goals. Next, the units of instructional materials are listed. The following sections provide descriptions of each of the eight units of the course: (1) Psychosocial Aspects of Family Planning; (2) the Menstrual Cycle; (3) Fertility Awareness; (4) Preparing a Sexual History; (5) The Gynecological Examination; (6) Intrauterine Devices and Oral Contraceptives; and (7) Family Planning in Clinical Practice. For each unit, an overview of the topic is provided, goals and specific objectives are delineated, and required and suggested readings are listed. Finally, information on course grading, course evaluation, and provisions for students not meeting course objectives is presented. (LAL)